Key Events

That's us for tonight

In summary, the timing of Monk’s departure is unexpected but in recent weeks this has increasingly appeared the likely outcome.

On the day of a victory in a game that marked the halfway point of the season, Boro find themselves looking for a new manager.

Join us for more reaction early doors tomorrow morning.

Take care.

23:47Dominic Shaw

What next for Boro?

Bolton. On Boxing Day. And then Villa four days later and the return of Steve Agnew.

Will Boro have a new man in charge by then?

Craig Liddle is the gaffer until Monk’s replacement is confirmed. The squad are likely to be back in at Rockliffe tomorrow for a light recovery session ahead of the visit of Bolton - who are much improved and a far better outfit than Boro played at their place, by the way - on Tuesday.

The immediate target is three points to build on today’s win at Hillsborough. But Boro will be looking for clarity as soon as possible. Then, with a new boss in place, they must set about bridging the gap between themselves and the top six.

Steve Gibson watches on during Boro's defeat to Derby

23:40Dominic Shaw

Fans' view on Monk's exit and who should replace him

Pulis. Pearson. Karanka. Hoddle.

They’re some of the names that have cropped up as fans have their say on who should replace Monk.

We’ve done a wrap-up of your reaction on Monk’s departure and what happens next HERE.

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk

23:27Dominic Shaw

Who's favourite to replace Monk?

Right, then. Who are we fancying?

Paddy Power wasted no time at all in pulling together their list of candidates.

Tony Pulis currently tops the betting at 3/10. HUGE favourite at this extremely early stage, though it’s worth pointing out that Gibson did move very swiftly last time he sacked a manager in this manner, appointing Gordon Strachan in place of Gareth Southgate.

Here’s the early list of runners and riders:

Tony Pulis - 3/10

Nigel Pearson - 4/1

Slaven Bilic - 7/1

A certain Aitor Karanka - 10/1

Michael O’Neil - 14/1

Ryan Giggs - 16/1

Craig Shakespeare - 16/1

Tony Pulis looks on at the Riverside (Image: Getty Images Europe)

23:17Dominic Shaw

Phil reckons Pulis...

23:14Dominic Shaw

How Garry Monk's Boro reign unravelled

In the end, Monk has paid the ultimate price for a poor campaign that has at times beggared belief.

That’s taken from this Jono Taylor piece, looking at how Monk’s reign has unravelled in such a short space of time.

In the end, the question of when Boro might click under Monk turned into an if. The seed of doubt was planted early on - and then it grew into an unmanageable beast.

There was plenty to like about Monk off-the-pitch. He arrived with a reputation as a forward-thinking, up-and-coming English manager with clear principles, an honest demeanour and a hunger to make a success of himself.

While it didn’t work out for him on Teesside, few will be surprised if the ex-Swansea and Leeds boss takes stock, learns from his mistakes and has an excellent career in the game.

But Boro couldn’t afford to play the waiting game. For every year you are out of the Premier League, the financial gulf between yourself and those at the top table multiplies.

‘Smash the league’ might have become an over-used soundbite used as a stick to beat Monk with, but ultimately, that was the chairman’s desire. He didn’t want to be put through the mill again.

To be sacked after a welcome win - and at Christmas - may seem harsh but football is a cruel business with little room for sentiment, writes Anthony Vickers.

Here’s a taster of his take:

Monk had described the 2-1 victory at Hillsborough as Boro ’s ‘best away display of the season’ yet the team stumbled through a chaotic first half before mounting a spirited if scrappy second half revival to come from behind.

There was little in the performance to suggest Boro had the ability to beat better sides, the ones above them, and less still to hint at sustained upward progress into the play-off pack.

In that sense there was a touch of the Southgate sacking about it. Then, in October 2009, chairman Steve Gibson decided that while Boro were still very much in touch with the promotion places they did not have the steel or spirit to match their rivals. A comprehensive 5-0 demolition at home to rivals West Brom made his mind up on that score.

Monk already favourite for the Swansea job

Not for one minute do I expect it to happen but Monk is already into 5/4 favourite with SkyBet to get the Swansea job.

Garry Monk during his time in charge of Swansea

22:50Dominic Shaw

Gibson 'won't have taken decision lightly'

22:44Dominic Shaw

The highs and lows of Monk's time in charge

Well unfortunately for the former Swansea and Leeds manager, there weren’t too many highs.

There was the flurry of optimism and excitement after his appointment in the summer when the signings - high profile and expensive - arrived one after another.

And there was that week of three victories against Reading, Hull and Sunderland. That was supposed to kick-start Boro’s season, wasn’t it. But it was a false dawn and unfortunately there’s been two or three of those already this season.

Ironically enough, as for highs, today was probably up there. Boro completely dominated after falling behind and absolutely deserved all three points.

But it was followed by one almighty low for Monk - the latest in a series of setbacks this season.

It started at Wolves but that was, after all, the first day of the season and Nuno’s side have gone on to run riot.

But since then, plenty of disappointments spring to mind, which rather sums up why he’s gone.

Norwich at home, Brentford at home, Cardiff at home, the three successive away defeats.

At half-time today, Boro were staring down the barrel of their ninth defeat of the season - which would have meant they’d lost as many games as they’d won in the first 23 games.

They turned it round, but for Monk it was too little, too late.

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk

22:35Dominic Shaw

Some social media reaction

22:27KEY EVENT

Video reaction

Is it really a surprise? Will the club have a replacement lined up? Jono Taylor, fresh from Hillsborough, gives his video reaction

22:26Dominic Shaw

The shortest serving full-time boss in the club's history

As confirmed by expert stat man Shaun Wilson, Monk is the shortest serving full-time boss in the club’s history.

He lasted a full season at Leeds last year when few expected him to and arrived in the summer stressing the importance of being able to work on a “project”.

Little did he imagine at that time that he’d gone by Christmas.

198 days in the job, as tweeted by my colleague Andrew Glover.

Boro manager Garry Monk (Image: Katie Lunn)

22:12Dominic Shaw

The contributing factors to Monk's departure

We know Steve Gibson is an owner who gives managers time.

He doesn’t press the panic button if results and performances aren’t immediate, and this is a decision that he’ll have taken with a heavy heart. Gibson won’t want to have sacked a manager after less than seven months in charge, particularly a manager who was brought in to lead the club into a new era after last season’s disappointment.

But there are a number of contributing factors.

Results, obviously. Boro are way short of where you’d expect them to be at this stage of the season. As much as Monk told of the difficulty in repairing a fractured dressing room and rebuilding fragile confidence while trying to implement a new style, this squad of players should be in the top six at an absolute minimum. You can’t get away from that.

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk

There’s more to it than just results, though. Performances as well simply haven’t been good enough.

How often have Boro played well this season?

And then there’s the style of play. What is it - or was it? What was Monk trying to do? After today’s game we were halfway through the season but it was difficult to identity what kind of team Boro were.

Home displays in particular have been below par, and that’s telling. The vast majority of Boro’s fans watch the side play at the Riverside. The vast majority of home performances this season have left fans wanting - demanding - better.

22:04Dominic Shaw

Boro thank Monk for 'hard work and dedication'

The club statement in full:

“Middlesbrough Football Club have parted company with manager Garry Monk.

“The club would like to thank Garry for his hard work and dedication, and wish him all the best for the future.

“The club’s Academy manager Craig Liddle will take temporary charge of first-team affairs during the interim period while a successor is appointed.

“The club will be making no further comment until an appropriate time.”

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

21:59Dominic Shaw

No signs of tonight's news in Monk's post-match presser

I’m sure you’re aware of the current situation between ourselves and the club, meaning we’re not currently attending press conferences or asking questions or post-match press conferences.

But we were in the room for Monk’s presser after the victory over Sheffield Wednesday today and there were no signs whatsoever of what was to come.

Monk was happy, delighted in fact, with the side’s performance, describing it as “excellent” and praising the players repeatedly.

Tonight’s news may well have taken him by surprise as well, though he’ll have been aware of the chairman’s discontent at what he’s seen in the opening half of the season, particularly after all that bold investment.

Monk, though, was a picture of delight on the pitch at full-time. He joined the players and the staff to celebrate the three points, clearly with little clue of what was coming just a few hours later.

Garry Monk at Millwall (Image: Avril Husband/Griffiths Photogra)

21:53Dominic Shaw

Tonight's news comes as a shock

For everyone, I’m sure.

The first half of the season has been a disappointment, there’s no getting away from that.

But it’s the timing of the announcement which has taken fans by surprise.

As for getting the boot after a victory, though, well Gareth Southgate was sacked after a win over Derby County.

Ultimately, it hasn’t been today’s performance or result which has made Steve Gibson’s mind up, it has been the number of below-par displays in the first half of the season.

There’s no getting away from the fact Boro have woefully underachieved. This squad, with all that summer investment, should be in the top six - at the very least!

This wasn’t the way the season was supposed to play out, but Gibson has chosen to act, leaving Boro looking for their fourth boss of the calendar year.

Steve Gibson and Neil Bausor (Image: Evening Gazette)

21:48Dominic Shaw

Craig Liddle in temporary charge

Boro tweeted the news half an hour or so ago but confusion then followed with the club website going down, presumably due to the volume of traffic.

They have confirmed, though, that Monk has indeed gone and that Craig Liddle will take “temporary charge of first team affairs during the interim period while a successor is appointed”.

Boro say they will be “making no further comment until an appropriate time”.

21:44Dominic Shaw

Garry Monk sacked

BREAKING NEWS this evening, Garry Monk has been sacked as Middlesbrough manager.

Monk leaves less than seven months after he joined the club and just a few hours after his side came from behind to win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite that win today, though, Boro are still ninth in the Championship table - with Steve Gibson clearly coming of the belief that the first half of the season simply hasn’t been good enough.